The report indicated that the overall accident rate reached 1.32 accidents per million flights in 2025, equivalent to one accident per 759,000 flights, compared to 1.42 accidents per million flights in 2024.
The total number of flights worldwide reached approximately 38.7 million in 2025, compared to 37.9 million in 2024. Fifty-one accidents were recorded in 2025, compared to 54 in the previous year, while the average number of accidents over the past five years is approximately 44 annually. Eight fatal accidents were recorded in 2025, compared to seven in 2024.
The report warned of the increasing risks associated with areas of armed conflict, which are increasingly impacting civil aviation operations due to airspace closures or flight diversions, in addition to escalating military activity near civil aviation routes.
IATA stressed the importance of coordination between civil and military authorities to ensure the safety of civil aviation, especially during crises, and the necessity of rapidly closing airspace when flight safety is compromised. The report also noted the increasing phenomenon of jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which modern aircraft rely on for air navigation. Reported jamming incidents rose by 67 percent in 2025 compared to 2023.
Willy Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), affirmed that aviation remains the safest mode of transportation globally, pointing out that accidents remain extremely rare and that each incident provides further impetus to strengthen safety standards and data-driven international cooperation.
He explained that the fatality rate has improved significantly over the past decade, from one fatal accident per 3.5 million flights between 2012 and 2016 to one accident per 5.6 million flights between 2021 and 2025. At the regional level, the report revealed a clear disparity in accident rates. Africa recorded the highest accident rate globally, despite improved performance compared to the previous year, while Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America saw improvements in safety indicators.
The Middle East and North Africa region recorded only one accident in 2025, resulting in an improved accident rate of 0.53 accidents per million flights, better than the average of the previous five years. The region has also maintained a zero fatality rate since 2019.
The report indicated that airport infrastructure plays a significant role in accident outcomes, with approximately 16 percent of accidents linked to airport-related factors. This underscores the need for strict adherence to international standards regarding runway safety zones and the removal of hazardous obstacles near aircraft taxiways.
The report also highlighted the importance of international safety audit programs. Airlines participating in the IOSA program recorded significantly lower accident rates than non-participating airlines, reflecting the role of regular audits in fostering a culture of safety.
IATA stressed the importance of publishing accident investigation reports quickly, comprehensively, and transparently as a key source for improving global aviation safety, noting that only 63 percent of accident reports between 2019 and 2023 were issued within the timeframe stipulated by the Chicago Convention.
IATA affirmed that the ultimate goal of the global aviation industry is to achieve zero accidents and zero fatalities by developing safety standards and enhancing information sharing and international cooperation among all stakeholders in the global air transport system.
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